M-Sport boss Malcolm Willson has tipped his driver Ott Tanak for more WRC rally wins after the Estonian collected his maiden victory at Rally Sardegna last weekend.

Accompanied by co-driver Martin Jarveoja, Tanak sealed a landmark win on the same event where he claimed his first podium in 2012. A maximum 25-point haul promoted him to third place in the drivers’ championship, marking him out as a title contender at the season’s mid-point.

The result also helped M-Sport extend its lead in the manufacturers’ standings and continue an unbroken record of podium finishes at every event so far this year.

"This is just the very beginning for Ott and Martin. There’s nothing quite like that first win and they delivered the perfect strategy with a very impressive drive this weekend. They should be extremely proud of their performance, and I’m sure this victory will be the first of many." Wilson said

M-Sport's relationship with Tanak stretches back to 2011 and has endured difficult times, especially when the Estonian was dropped by the squad after an accident-prone 2012 campaign.

“As you can imagine, there was a lot of emotion from the team when Ott crossed the finish line. When you’ve worked with someone as long as a lot of our guys have worked with Ott – and been with him through all of the ups and downs – I can tell you that this one really does mean a lot," Wilson said.

Wilson believes Tanak has made big development steps in the last two seasons, and that the arrival at M-Sport of Sebastien Ogier has also had a positive effect.

"We all know that Ott had the pace, the way he has evolved in the past eighteen months, it was a big step last year. I really believe bringing Sebastien into the team made everybody, the drivers, co-drivers and the team as well, look at everything. This is the success that we have seen from all our guys," he said.